Posted by Mary Ann on May 23, 2003 at 12:24:44:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: a dumb post here posted by ..and... on May 23, 2003 at 12:03:41:
I really do think there has been a major change since the advent of CD's; "perfect" performances are what we are used to hearing, and we forget that they are exceedingly rare on stage. Of course to counter that I have to remember sitting ten feet away from James Somerville (BSO) and watching him play with absolute perfection things that I only do in my dreams. But I am also sure that there were others there who were able to find fault, even with his performance.
There is more than one way to critique, though. There is analysis, which can and should be rational observation. Then there is trashing, which has no place anywhere. The problem is when one is mistaken for the other.
MA